To paraphrase broadcast legend Ron Burgundy, sleep tokens are no big deal. Formed in 2016, this UK band of his includes Meshuggah, Deftones, Bon Iver, spirited away Transformed into a pop metal mash, they became one of the most talked about bands.
This depends, in part, on their worldbuilding. They all wear masks and support lore about a mysterious deity called “Sleep” whom they worship. In front of Vessel — sensitivity is not their forte — even forbidding the crew to tell their real names, they promise a little something. In a 2017 interview metal hammer, Wessel said, “How we got here is not as important as who we are. It’s the music and the message that matters.”
After all, it’s a great gimmick. Just like Kiss, Slipknot, Ghost, Lordi and GWAR, it looks cool. Plus, Sleep Token’s “worship/sleep/shit/repeat” killer whale doesn’t work with his five bemused tossers in chinos.
Inevitably, the mystery surrounding Sleep Token has prompted the internet’s finest minds to come up with suggestions ranging from plausible to downright hat-socks as to who is behind the mask. We put on Sherlock Holmes-approved deerstalkers and did a little research on the internet. Let’s see if we can get any closer to the truth.
James Arthur
after winning x factor In 2012, James Arthur’s career milestones included being kicked out of Twitter for performing a homophobic battle rap. Yet he remains inexplicably popular among British mothers. Perhaps Sleep Token is a good release valve? Arthur and Vessel are very similar in how they approach vibrato, but the dates don’t match. Both artists are performing in different countries on the same day.
is he Bessel? Absolutely not.
Matt Bellamy
What Matt Bellamy does when he’s not standing in front of his muse or figuring out who did 9/11 actually stand up?Some accuse him of wearing a mask and living his days as a Vessel. I Want Stand Down It’s straight sleep token worship. But that’s it.he doesn’t TRUE Sounds like Wessel, and both bands’ tour dates collided.
is he Bessel? No.
Sam Smith
This is the weirdest rumor and our favorite. But as funny as it may be, the four-time Grammy Award winner is pretty busy bagging number-one albums, singing Bond theme tunes, and packing massive venues. And like James Arthur, Smith was playing on another continent the same night as Sleep Token.
are they ships? It would be great on so many levels, but unfortunately it’s not.
Dan Smith
Bastille frontman Dan Smith is thrown into the Sleep Token mix and you can see why. Sure he’s related in tone to the two vocalists, but Dan’s is a little higher.just a little off. Additionally, the tour dates do not match.
is he Bessel? another no.
hosier
Irish singer Andrew Hosier-Byrne’s 2013 hits take me to church It has “church” in the title.Lean Religious Connections Aside, Hozier’s Birth do If you imagine him screaming down the gullet pulling Meshuggah’s stinking face behind his mask, bring holy water. But yeah, like the other suspects, the tour dates overlap.
is he Bessel? Probably no.
Rob Damiani
Can Don Broco frontman Rob Damiani slam it as Wessel? His last gig before the UK’s first coronavirus lockdown was watching Sleep Token – He didn’t take the picture conveniently. upon stage? Probably not. His voice doesn’t quite match, nor do his tour dates.
is he Bessel? Disagreeable.
Jordan Hunt
We are getting warmer now. Classically trained singer His Songs His writer Jordan Hunt has written mournful “sad pop” songs for luxury brands such as Alexander His McQueen, Louis Vuitton, Dior and more. rice field. He was once credited with being the token frontman for Sleep His, largely because of the near-pitch-perfect delivery he requires for his work. Check out his 2020 singles. Sea, And you become a twig.
But… in the Sleep Token video e, Looking cheekily at the chin of the ship. It’s a different jaw than Hunt.Unless he’s ghosting and stuffing his prosthetics behind His mask, we are exposing this.
is he Bessel? unlikely
Leo Faulkner
Blacklit Canopy was an alternative rock duo from Bristol, England. In 2014 he released one of his EPs patient demo, and that’s pretty much it. One member, Gemma Matthews, has not been involved in music since. Another member, Leo Faulkner? That’s another matter…
Of all the people rumored to be behind Bessel Mask, Faulkner is by far the strongest bet. Their voices sound the same at first.. Blacklit Canopy’s material doesn’t have screaming or chunky djent riffs, but his vocal lines are… rhythm, intonation. quite similar. Well, it’s actually the same.
And then there’s the fact that Faulkner was featured on Holding Abscense’s 2019 song purge, plays the piano. It doesn’t prove itself. However, Holding Absence is on his Loathe owned label, SharpTone Records, with which both Sleep Token and Holding Absence have collaborated.But here’s the killer: Holding Absence vocalist/careless bean sower Lucas Woodland said: purge“The piano part was actually recorded by Sleep Token.”
I don’t think Sleep Token will reveal their true identities because that’s part of the fun. But given the evidence, hearsay, and songwriting credits we’ve perused, I think we’ve come to the conclusion that we’ll do decently on our high school exams. Leo Faulkner is the man behind the mask. Perhaps…
is he Bessel? Probably yes.
